awkward

Examples

• All

• So I thought it was a bit awkward to watch.

  WAFFLIN' Podcast

• And of course the first kiss... that should be the most awkward moment in any boy's life.

  Movie 43 (2013)

• And why are they making things awkward for everybody?

  DoctorRamani

• We'll have a few more awkward dinner parties.

  The Cost of Love (2010)

• This is the awkward moment.

  Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

• This is going to be the most awkward family Thanksgiving of my life.

• It's uncomfortable, it's awkward, the room's cold.

• We were at our locker and he ran up... and it was such an awkward silence.

  Parental Guidance (2012)

• Dinner that night was a lengthy, awkward affair marked by long periods of silence.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Editors who do not have the wholehearted support of their company are in a very awkward position.

  Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

U

uncomfortable

vsawkward

702 1.7

Causing physical pain or making you feel uneasy in a situation

adds idea of causing trouble or social embarrassment too

E

embarrassed

vsawkward

490 1.1

Feeling awkward, shy, or ashamed because of something you did

refers more to causing difficulty, inconvenience, or being hard to handle

E

embarrassing

vsawkward

459 2.4

Making someone feel awkward or ashamed

emphasizes difficulty or inconvenience as well as causing shame

U

uneasy

vsawkward

92 3.2

You feel worried and not relaxed

can be caused by practical difficulty or social embarrassment as well

I

inconvenient

vsawkward

78 4.1

Something that causes trouble and makes things difficult

also covers social embarrassment and being hard to manage

O

out of place

vsawkward

74 3.5

Feeling uncomfortable because you do not belong in a place or situation

is more general, also including practical difficulty or embarrassment

D

dorky

vsawkward

• Informal

35 7.7

Awkward and not fashionable in a slightly silly way

is more general, including non silly discomfort or practical problems

S

sticky

vsawkward

• Informal

33 5.9

A difficult or embarrassing situation that needs care

is broader, covering difficulty, inconvenience, or embarrassment

B

bashful

vsawkward

16 3.2

Shy and easily embarrassed, avoiding attention

is broader, including causing difficulty or social embarrassment beyond shyness

U

ungainly

vsawkward

7 7.3

Moving or looking awkward and clumsy

covers social or practical difficulty beyond physical clumsiness

C

cringe-worthy

vsawkward

• Informal

4 7.3

Making you feel embarrassed or awkward

is broader, also meaning difficulty or inconvenience beyond shame

A

abashed

vsawkward

3 7.2

Feeling embarrassed and awkward after making a mistake or being corrected

focuses more on causing difficulty or inconvenience, not just feeling shame

K

klutzy

vsawkward

• Informal

2 7.5

Moving awkwardly and often causing small accidents or embarrassment

is broader, covering general difficulty or inconvenience not just clumsiness

C

cringeworthy

vsawkward

• Informal

1 6.3

Makes people feel embarrassed and awkward

extends to general difficulty or inconvenience not only shame

I

infelicitous

vsawkward

• Formal

1 9.1

Unsuitable for a situation that makes people feel uncomfortable

is broader, also meaning practical difficulty or social embarrassment

C

cringey

vsawkward

• Slang

1 8.4

Makes you feel embarrassed because it seems awkward or fake

is more general, applying to trouble or discomfort beyond cringe

S

sore-thumbish

vsawkward

• Informal

9.9

Looks out of place and stands out among similar things

is more general, also meaning hard to deal with or inconvenient

Antonyms

C

comfortable

488 1.0

Not feeling pain or physical discomfort

G

graceful

80 2.8

Movement that is smooth and attractive like a dancer or swan

Compounds

A

awkward moment

19 4.1

A short time when people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed

A

awkward silence

8 4.3

A tense pause in a conversation that makes people feel uncomfortable

How Difficult

unmanageable

12 6.2

difficult

∞ 1.6

troublesome

45 3.9

awkward

373 3.3

inconvenient

78 4.1

Surface Forms

Etymology